Get your tickets for Dean-Lee gubernatorial debate in Kingsport

STAFF
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Sep 21, 2018 at 8:45 AM

KINGSPORT — Tickets will be available beginning Monday at 8 a.m. for the Oct. 9 Northeast Tennessee gubernatorial debate between Republican Bill Lee and Democrat Karl Dean. Tickets may be picked up at the Kingsport Times News office at 701 Lynn Garden Drive or at the Johnson City Press office at 204 W. Main St. Two tickets per person will be allotted. Approximately 1,200 total tickets will be issued.

This historic one-hour debate will be held at 7 p.m. at the Eastman Employee Center. Doors will open at 5:45. Attendees are requested to be seated no later than 6:45 due to the scheduled live broadcast of the event. East Tennessee PBS will air the debate across the statewide PBS network of stations. The debate will also be livestreamed at www.timesnews.net and www.johnsoncitypress.com.

Attendees may be subject to search by security. No food, drinks, bags or signs will be allowed in the building.

“Due to the live broadcast and the time constraints that places on the debate, we are requesting that attendees refrain from applause and other participation until the close of the debate,” said Rick Thomason, publisher of the Times News. “That will give the candidates the maximum amount of time to answer as many questions as we can feed them. And those answers are what this debate is all about.”

Other disruptive behavior such as rallying, cheering, whistling or heckling will not be allowed. Security will escort violators from the auditorium and building. No political activity, including the placing of signs, will be allowed outside the Eastman Employee Center on Eastman property.

The public is welcome to submit questions for consideration to be presented to the candidates by sending an email to news@timesnews.net, or they may be dropped by either newspaper office. Robert Houk, senior reporter of the Johnson City Press, will moderate the debate and Times News reporter Matthew Lane will be the official timekeeper.

The event is organized and sponsored by the Times News and the Johnson City Press. Presenting sponsors are Eastman and Ballad Health.

“We thank Eastman and Ballad for making this event — and the live broadcast — possible,” Thomason said. “Without their support and resources, organizing this debate would have been infinitely more difficult.”